Cornelius a



(No l lode l.) I

" G. A.- WHITE.

I BILLET 0R STRAP CLAMP FOR 'SADDLES.

No. 536,114. Patented Mar. 19,1895.

' mmezzw J. Wit essizs I) ]3y fi'rgeys.

1 I I a? THE floflms PETERS :0 FHOTO-LITHO wAsMmcrou. n c

CORNELIUS A. WHITE, or OARLISLE,

ATENT FFICEL.

KENTUCKY, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO ANDY MOINTIRE, OF SAME PLACE.

BILLET OR ST RAP CLAMP FOR SADDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,114, dated March 19, 1 895.

Application filed June 16. 1 8 94.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS A. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarlisle, in the county of Nicholas and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Billet or Strap Clamp for Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

V This invention relates to billet or strap clamps for saddles, and it has for its object to providea new and useful device of this character adapted to be used in connection with harness or gig saddles, for the purpose of providing simple and efficient means for detachably clamping to the skirt of the saddle the billet or buckle strap to which the extremities of the girth are buckled.

Tothis end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide a connectionbetween the billet or buckle strap and the skirt of the saddle which will dispense with stitching, will withstand the wear of the shaft tug thereon, and will provide means whereby a person unskilled in the art can readily remove and replace the billet or strap without defacing the skirt or pad of the saddle.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a harness or gig saddle showing the herein-described clamp connected with the skirt of the saddle. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the clamp in its applied position. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the inner base plate. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the outer recessed cap plate.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates one end of a harness or gig saddle provided with the usual skirt 2, and adapted to be fitted on the inner side of the skirt 2, is the inner base plate 3, of the herein-described clamp. The inner base plate 3, is somewhat elongated and is slightly curved to conform to the curvature of the skirt at the point where it is attached, and said base plate is provided near one end with the interiorly threaded collar 4, projected from one side thereof and Serial No. 514,791. (No model.)

adapted to register in the collar opening 5,

formed in the skirt 2, of the saddle. At an intermediate point and projected from the same side as the interiorly threaded collar 4, the said elongated base plate is further provided with the off-standing securing stud 6, that is adapted to engage in one of the stud openings 7, formed in the saddle skirt below the collar opening 5, and near its lower end the said base plate is pierced by the lower stud opening 8, adapted to align with the lower of the stud openings 7, formed in the saddle skirt.

The saddle skirt 2, is adapted to have connected thereto on the outside thereof at the point where the base plate is located the upper end of the billet or strap 9, which is the strap to which the ends of the girth are buckled in the ordinary manner, and in the present invention, the said billet or strap is securely and detachably clamped onto the skirt by means of the outer recessed cap plate 10. The outer cap plate 10, is surrounded at its edge by an inclosing flange 11, that forms a recessed inner side or pocket to receive the upper end of the billet or strap 9, and said cap plate is tapered off thin to its upper end as at 12, in order to be disposed as much out of the way as possible of the shaft tug that is arranged outside of the skirt of the saddle at this point. The said cap plate 10, is provided near its upper end with the countersunk screw opening 13, that is adapted to be aligned with a similar opening 14, in the upper end of the billet or strap and is adapted to receive therein the clamp screw 15, that also passes into and engages the interiorly threaded collar 4, of the base plate 3, thereby firmly securing the base plate in position and clamping the cap plate onto the upper end of the billet or strap. The cap plate 10, is further provided near its lower end'with the inwardly extended securing stud 16, that is adapted to pass through a stud opening 17, in the upper end of the billet or strap and also through the aligned stud openings in the lower end of the base plate 2', and the saddle skirt, thereby completing a connection that renders it impossible for the billet or strap to be disconnected from the saddle skirt without removing thescrew 15.

WVhen the inner base plate 3, is once fitted in position it will be obvious that the clamp will outwear the saddle and will always provide means for readily removing and replacing the billet or strap without injuring the saddle in any particular, and other advantages than those stated will readily appear to those skilled in the art.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described billet or strap clam p consisting of an inner base plate adapted to s be fitted to the inner side of asaddle skirt and provided with an interiorly threaded collar adapted to engage an openingin the saddle skirt and a stud opening aligning with asimilar opening in the saddle skirt, the outer cap plate having an inwardly extended securing stud adapted to tit in said aligned stud openings and a similar opening in the upper end of a billet or strap, and a screw opening, and a clamping screw adapted to pass through the screw opening of the cap plate and to engage the interiorly threaded collar of said base plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a billet or strap clamp, the combination with a saddle skirt and a billet or strap having aligned openings therein; of an inner base plate adapted to be fitted to the inner side of the saddle skirt and provided with a threaded opening aligning with the openings in the skirt and the billet or strap, a removable outer cap plate having an inner recessed side embracing one end of the billet or strap and having a loose interlocking conuection with the inner base plate, said outer cap plate being provided with a screw opening, and a clamping screw passed through the screw opening of the cap plate, the aligned openings of the skirt and the billet or strap, and engaging in the threaded opening of the inner base plate, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein described billet or strap clamp consisting of an inner base plate adapted to be arranged at the inner side of a saddle skirt and provided with an interiorly threaded collar registering in an opening in the saddle skirt, an oif-standing securing stud adapted to register in a stud opening in the saddle skirt, and a lower stud opening adapted to align with a similar opening in the saddle skirt, a removable outer cap plate having an inner recessed side adapted to embrace one end of a billet or strap, a countersunk screw opening and an inwardly extended securing stud adapted to pass through an opening in the billet or strap and the aligned stud openings in the skirt and base plate, and the clamping screw, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CORNELIUS A. WHITE. Witnesses:

F. H. ADAIR, CALVIN DARNALL. 

